CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2015 -- FABTECH 2015, North America's largest collaboration of technology, equipment and knowledge in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries, has assembled a lineup of impressive keynote presentations, industry panel sessions and special events for the four-day event, taking place Nov. 9-12 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Speakers and expert panel participants will come from companies such as Dell, GE Ventures and more.

"FABTECH is a place where some of the best minds in manufacturing come to share their perspectives," said John Catalano, show co-manager, FABTECH. "The individuals who present and participate in our programs have incredibly diverse backgrounds - and when they share their wide-ranging experiences, it's extremely beneficial to our attendees."

Special event presentation topics range from additive manufacturing/3D printing and security risks to women in manufacturing and the importance of teamwork, among others. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in an industry night event and professional welder competition. The schedule of special events includes:

Monday, Nov. 9
KEYNOTE: Running a Winning Organization
Grand Ballroom, 9-10 a.m.
NASCAR legend and champion Rusty Wallace will address the importance of teamwork, whether on the track or in a business environment. From the men and women on his crew to the final lap and finish line, throughout his career Wallace has demonstrated that anything is possible through the power of teamwork.

What Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing Means for the Metal Fabrication Industry
FABTECH Theater, Grand Concourse, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Dave Flynn, senior business development manager, Materialise USA, will guide panelists from Met-L-Flo, Inc., 3rd Dimension Industrial 3D Printing, Cincinnati Inc. and Materialise USA through a discussion regarding the change and growth of additive manufacturing through the years, and how it can be used to help improve business.

Tuesday, Nov. 10
Enterprise Security Risks: Is Your Company Protected?
FABTECH Theater, Grand Concourse, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
As enterprise security breaches and compromises have become some of businesses' greatest - and most unpredictable - risk factors, Jay Monahan, SAP director, global shop floor for Dell, will discuss with panelists from SyrRoc Systems, Concurrent Technologies Corporation and Prescient Edge, LLC, how companies can ward off these threats, now and in the future.

FABTECH Industry Night
Lucky Strike, E. Illinois St., Downtown Chicago, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Industry Night is an opportunity to connect with colleagues and new friends in a relaxing environment. This bowling-and-billiards networking event will feature a special appearance by Jeanette "Black Widow" Lee, a world-class professional pool player.

Wednesday, Nov. 11
Women of FABTECH Breakfast with Tech Tour
Grand Concourse Lobby, 7:30-10:30 a.m.
This networking breakfast, celebrating the importance of women in manufacturing, will provide a platform for creating relationships and exchanging new ideas between suppliers and practitioners in the field. The event includes a continental breakfast and tech tour on the show floor.

KEYNOTE: Innovation and the Future of Work in Advanced Manufacturing
FABTECH Theater, Grand Concourse, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Karen Kerr, director for advanced manufacturing at GE Ventures, will discuss how optimized supply chains and industrial processes have created faster disruptions, more flexible factories and higher-performing products, which has empowered workers and elevated the workforce in the manufacturing industry.

State of the Industry Executive Outlook: Advanced Manufacturing
FABTECH Theater, Grand Concourse, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Lead by Rebecca Taylor, senior VP for National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, this expert panel will feature leading manufacturing executives from GE Ventures, Linear Mold & Engineering, Inc. and EWI. They will discuss how their companies stay at the forefront of manufacturing advancements and how they deal with disruptive technologies as they relate to new product introduction, supply chain, customer interaction and advanced automation.

Additionally, throughout the week at FABTECH, professional welders will compete onsite for the title of "Best Welder in America" and a $2,500 first place prize, $1,000 second place and $500 third place prize. Contestants will demonstrate their skill by making a single-pass SMAW weld with E7018 on low-carbon steel. Speed and quality will be the criteria used to crown winners.

For more information or to register for FABTECH 2015, please visit www.fabtechexpo.com. For event updates, follow FABTECH on Facebook and Twitter.

About FABTECH
The FABTECH expo is North America's largest collaboration of technology, equipment and knowledge in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries. The event provides a powerfully aligned hands-on, face-to-face business growth experience, attracting more than 1,500 exhibitors and 40,000 attendees. The event is made possible by its five co-sponsors, all of whom representing the varied and diverse makeup of the manufacturing industry. They include SME, the American Welding Society (AWS), the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), and the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI).

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